The Coming Storm

Writing as Flynn, first-time novelists Stuart Sherman and Elisabeth Donnelly make a strong debut with this trilogy opener, set in a world populated by superhumans. Fifteen-year-old Sarah Robertson can control the weather with her emotions and yearns to attend Hero Academy, where she can train to be a full-fledged Hero. Instead, her lack of control, coupled with her mother being an infamous supervillain, brings her rejection and assignment to the local high school. But as Sarah meets other so-called Misshapes rejected by the Academy, she makes new friends and finds her own self-worth and confidence%E2%80%94which comes in handy when the outsiders catch wind of a plot to rid the world of Misshapes and others deemed unworthy. The authors conjure a world teeming with intriguing characters and unusual powers%E2%80%94the abilities to turn liquid into alcohol or conjure spectral backup singers are among those represented, a welcome deviance from more typical power sets. Stilted bits of dialogue and narrative occasionally mar the story, but the book never loses its sense of wonder and excitement. Worthy of the comics it takes inspiration from. Ages 10%E2%80%93up. (Oct.)